Tag Archives: band

I first played mas in the Caribana parade in 2005, so this was my tenth anniversary year, and the explosion of Caribana-themed #tbt pics on Instagram this summer (even though calling something a throwback when it’s from two weeks ago is my newest online pet peeve) inspired me to rank my costumes so far. I’ve worn more than 10 Caribana/Carnival costumes, when you factor in things like band launches and promo events, but these are costumes that are (or were) mine.

There was some stiff competition . . . so let’s start at the bottom . . .

.

1. 2005 — NAME UNKNOWN

I legit don’t remember the name of the first section I played in, and I didn’t even get any good pictures of me in costume that year. My section was super-disorganized, and there’s no need for me to name the band because karma.

I think that’s me! Off to the right, obviously . . .

Next.

2. 2007 — FIRE DANCER

Fortunately my less-than-stellar experience the first time around didn’t discourage me, and by 2007 I was not only still playing mas, I was even *gasp* picking my own costume!

This was the first year I got the costume I wanted the most, instead of going along with cousins who were also in the parade (they played Sexy Clown and Lion Tamer). Carnival Nationz had a circus theme this year, and my Fire Dancer outfit was kinda hot!

3. 2010 — NAME FORGOTTEN

The only year aside from 2005 in which I did not play with Nationz was 2010. I don’t remember the theme, and if I was forced to guess I’d say the name of my section was Harmony (?), but this was a smaller band and I realized that I really like the big-huge-band-here-we-come experience much better.

However, wearing all white was a lot of fun, and the bum feathers on the back of this costume gave me life.

4. 2014 — COHIBA

Bum feathers would have pushed this costume a little higher up on the scale, but I definitely felt like a bronze goddess in it! This year’s costume, Cohiba, from Nationz’s “Havana” theme.

The bra was super-duper comfortable, which was a nice surprise; I wasn’t blown away by the belt, though. I did love the body chain, which I ordered from China while in Dubai because I was so excited that I’d be back home for jump-up. =) (Unfortunately, after two days of wearing said chain in summer weather, one strand broke, the colour rubbed off and my neck and underarms got bumpy and itchy. Please, folks, be careful what you order online.)

5. 2008 — SEXTANT HORIZON

My single most enduring memory of the 2008 Caribana parade is being pelted with the angriest rain I’ve ever felt in my life, just before and while we were crossing the stage to be judged. But as our section leader Shawna said, smiling through the rain, “You can’t stop the sun!”

The joke is, the sun came out just AFTER we crossed the stage, drenched and freezing and with pieces of costumes falling off. Maybe our theme, “Pirates,” had conjured up some kind of sea storm on land. The belt, one of my fave things about this costume (simple yet elegant and with coverage), remained unscathed.

6. 2006 — XBALANQUE (MEXICO)

This was my first time playing mas with Carnival Nationz, and their theme was “La Copa Mundial” (the World Cup), presumably since Trinidad & Tobago were competing and Caribbeans all around the world were extra excited for them.

wearing the 2006 costume in 2013 for a Toronto SUN photoshoot =)

I would’ve been happy wearing this or the Spain section, since both were unique and beautiful, but I had a ball in this. All day long people were stopping my cousins and I to ask us “who made that costume?” Denise Chang Kit, thank you very much =)

7. 2009 — BUTTERFLY

This was the year Nationz chose the theme “In Full Bloom,” and there were lots of beautiful costumes to choose from. I decided to be extra and chose one that didn’t even have a section.

with my cousin Kari!

This was a heartbreaker because my Butterfly costume was incomplete — I had no wings. The wings weren’t made, or the wings weren’t fixed, or the wings were left at the camp — whatever the reason, I was one unhappy loyalty masquerader. I ended up crossing the stage with the Water Lily section and endured many curious stares as people wondered whether I’d made my own costume at home and then tried to sneak in. It was really pretty, and I liked the one-piece, but . . . sigh . . .

8. 2012 — SHANG DYNASTY

Another Denise Chang Kit original. The theme this year was “Empires.” I’d never liked the idea of playing mas in black, but a wicked costume is a wicked costume! And the embellished piece between the bra and the panty was worth every penny at $20.

I felt ridiculously sexy in this outfit.

9. 2011 — MERMAID

The theme for Nationz this year was “Mythical Creatures.” This headpiece gave me life and it still does! Yes, the costume is pretty, and yes, I loved the cute little jingling noises it made — but really, we all went nuts over the oversized feather mohawk in aqua blue and deep purple.

Mind you it hurt . . . my girls and I wore Dr Scholls strips on our foreheads and even with that I had to wad up some toilet paper . . . I felt the dent in my head for the rest of the weekend. But COME ON! Definitely an all-time fave.

10. 2013 — MANDARIN FISH

There will always be a place in my heart for a bra which is bejewelled within an inch of its life, an unconventionally shaped headpiece, surprising pops of colour, and a set of style-em-yourself body chains. So this costume wins it all. Hands down.

I remember how excited I got when the 2013 theme was announced. “The Reef,” oh man! It’s like Finding Nemo with a soca soundtrack!! Of course the costumes were going to be breathtaking and gorgeous!!! And while I’m still not sure how we came in second place that year, this costume is absolutely my favourite one.

June already! I’m almost back on Canadian soil (editing and posting this from inside an airport terminal actually), after spending half a year abroad. For this edition of Top Ten Tuesday, here are ten awesome memories and/or accomplishments from this stay in Dubai . . .

1. So much writing.

Beginning on Christmas Day 2013, I promised I would write every day. Even a single sentence, or a few words; some days this meant an entire song or three, and some days it meant several scenes of a TV episode. Sometime in April or May I got a little more strict with myself, so now I have to write a snippet or piece of a song, or a song idea, every day. Even on days when I’ve completed a song. Even on days when I’m totally focused on a script and don’t want to think about writing a song.

So, the final tally? 52 new songs and 3 new episodes of the series I’m working on. Plus, I’ve got about 11 pages of ideas to dip into the next time I think “now what can I write a song about?” Not bad at all.

2. So much sun.

What do you when it’s 50 degrees warmer where you are than it is back at home? You go to the beach.

It’s not like I was out there every day, but I definitely took advantage of my winter and spring in the desert — and I’ve got the tan to prove it!

3. So much singing.

Being onstage six nights a week and singing so many genres (pop, reggae, rock, country, soul, Motown, blues, calypso, jazz) is awesome training. Doing so without lyrics in front of you is great for your memorization skills. Doing so in heels has left my feet considerably uglier than they were six months ago . . . ah well, you can’t win em all.

Shoutouts to my incredible bandmates Jo (keys) and Julian (guitar), for allowing me to experience the awesomeness that is playing with live musicians — and alllllll the hilarity that goes along with it!

4. Friends from every corner of the globe.

Maybe not every single corner . . . but I now have people to welcome me in Italy, South Africa, Indonesia, Sweden, all over the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Russia, the Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, and of course here in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. And as eager as I am to get back home and hug all my people in Canada and the United States, it feels good to know that friendship transcends borders.

Of course I look forward to welcoming any of my new friends if and when they find themselves in Toronto, too!

At home I can jog along Lake Ontario, and I’m frequently amused by the friendly (well, probably just hungry) squirrels in my neighbourhood, and there are some nice views of the sunset from my building before it’s hidden by condos. In Dubai, I’ve been bathing in the Gulf of Arabia, taking pictures of flowers and sandscapes and water views, and loving the sight (though not always the sound) of tons of birds — including obnoxious crows and shrill peacocks.

There are some really cool manmade wonders out there, obviously, but it’s also been really nice to just look at a seashell or a cliff and enjoy that.

7. Opportunities.

I’ll do my best to explain this clearly and without offending anyone.

Opportunities are everywhere, and so are opportunity-seekers and opportunity-creators. But it seems to me that there is a greater sense of possibility in Dubai than at home; and it has nothing to do with money and everything to do with attitude. Both Toronto and Dubai are big, bustling cities with international populations and people at different socioeconomic levels . . . but they differ when it comes to the ratio of whiners to risk-takers. At home, I find a lot of people who feel that they’re stuck in a rut. In Dubai, I find a lot of people who are hustling, who are keeping it moving, who are creating some type of change instead of just complaining.

Example: my friend Davide Giusti (grey shirt), tennis coach extraordinaire who is opening his own academy in Dubai, and 15-year-old “Prince Pavel,” a future world tennis champion from Poland

This is probably because roughly 80% of the people there are expats (not local to the area, they were born somewhere else), so they’ve already taken the step of leaving home, their physical comfort zone. Granted, many of the people I met were on vacation, but when I did meet someone who’a planning to stay for awhile I tended to notice a quiet confidence and certainty that they’ll be able to do what they came here to do. And if not then they can go somewhere else and try again. It’s all good.

8. Truly cherishing interaction with people from back home.

It will be such a treat to sit down and have a meal with family and friends again. Even if I don’t like the food, I have to sit on the floor, and no one says a single word for the duration of the meal.

See these two? They will be smothered with hugs very shortly . . .

I knew homesickness would be an issue for me; I’m glad that I came through without getting too emotional (for the most part), and I now fully understand what a musician friend of mine meant when he told me staying away for a month wasn’t enough; he wanted to be gone for long enough that he missed being home.

9. Exploring.

I’ll have to make sure I do this in Toronto/Ontario/Canada too! One of the best things about travelling is getting to know a new place. I don’t mean just the people and customs and laws, I mean the physical place. When you’re new to the UAE, you ask a lot of questions like “Why isn’t there any parking?” and “Can I take the Metro?” and some more unique ones too, like “Why isn’t there a street address?”

The huge sigh of relief when you finally somehow get to the place you were hoping to find . . .

I’m very grateful to anyone who has ever printed and distributed a clearly marked map, and for numerous online forums where expats and travellers share tips. I’m also newly in love with Groupon (and similar sites like Kobonaty) for offering great deals in the area, making it that much easier to get out there and try a desert safari, or flyboarding, or a double-massage deal.

10. Discovering and developing new talents.

I’ve dusted off my photographer, videographer, and video editor hats, in addition to writing new episodes as mentioned above. I decided to share some of my insights in a 30-day art installation project via Instagram and Facebook/Twitter . . . (stay tuned to my YouTube channel for a video recap of that, plus a video recap of the whole Dubai trip) . . . and being genuinely touched and surprised by a bandmate’s comment that I’m “so visual,” I’ve been creating collages (as seen all over this blog) that are way better than those Instathings, and I even came up with my phoenix/mermaid photoshoot out of thin air.

Plus, I commissioned two newly designed dresses and had them made at a local tailor’s (and blogged all about it), and I’m really loving finding new ways to express myself visually!

So what’s next for me? A Top Ten Tuesday blog featuring the 10 best things about being back home?

130 days in Dubai … has everyone back home forgotten about me yet? Haha!

With two more months til hometime, here are a few updates for the curious …

Our shows continue to go well, especially on Friday nights when we get to perform outside on the beach. Here’s a clip from two Fridays ago – hopefully I’ll be able to share more with you soon!

I now have an Instagram account, and I post new pics and/or videos every day, so you can peek in on the highs and lows of my #Dubailife =) Just follow @chattrisse

Coming up next, I have my sights set on the Caribbean! There is an incredible opportunity to spend July and August on the beautiful island of Tobago, and now that my video and bio are in, I need your help to get me there. I’d be so grateful if you could take the time to “Like” the 60 Days in Paradise Facebook page and leave a comment about why Chattrisse Dolabaille should be the first-ever Island Connoisseur, and/or do the same thing on Twitter by mentioning @60daysparadise and @chattrisse and using the hashtag #60days … the Top Ten finalists will be announced on April 21st, and if I’m one of them I’ll need all the votes I can get to land the gig!

Some of the experiences I’ve enjoyed here so far are camel riding, fly boarding (now that was a thrill), some shopping, lots of tanning, and even more peacock-watching. Last week I posted ten more things that are on my to-do list … so far I’ve completed #9, booked #4 and #6, picked a tentative date for #2 and #5, and I hope to get #7 done this month as well … stay tuned!

And last but not least, I set a personal goal to write 50 new songs during this Dubai sojourn of mine; as of yesterday, I’m up to 37, planning to blow that goal out of the water. Will I end up with 55? 60? Time will tell …

All in all, I’m excited to go home, but I’m glad it isn’t time to go just yet. Til next time!

Yeah. I couldn’t stand it. I felt like I was always the student who did more than her share of work because someone had to overcompensate for the people who weren’t motivated by good grades or high achievement. (And for the record, no, good grades aren’t everything. But in school, they’re the main measuring tool. I was usually upset to receive anything lower than 90%.)

So any time the idea of singing in a group came up, I was quick to dismiss it. I grew up LOVING vocal groups like TLC and Boyz II Men, and still do, but I couldn’t picture myself as a member of a group. Chattrisse, in my mind, was a solo act. A one-woman success story. My African name at the time was Zenzele, which translates to “she will do it herself,” and I really wasn’t looking for any company onstage. Having to deal with multiple egos and personalities, running the risk of becoming a backup performer while the lead singer hogs the spotlight, and then having to split the paycheque between two or three or five people on top of all that??? No thanks.

I guess back then I still believed that you could do big, huge, world-shaking, record-breakingly awesome things on your own. And the further away I get from my school years and their haunting memories of “group” “work,” the more I realize that having a team not only makes most goals more easily attainable, it also lets you have way more fun along the way.

For example, I did a theatre tour earlier this year with two fellow cast members, and the energy we brought to the stage when all three of us were “on” was awesome. The backstage hijinks were also way more fun than if I were just noticing something funny with no one to share it with. And when one of us was feeling sick or extra tired, there were two other people there who could lend extra support. (Shoutout to Madeleine Jullian and Phil Poirier, I had a blast!)

Madeleine/Mollie, Chattrisse/Puppareena, Phil/Twitter – our last show

Have you ever danced a solo? I’m still slightly terrified of that (working on it). But dancing that same piece with two other performers feels wicked! And honestly, as a singer, one of the best sounds in the world is your voice harmonizing with other voices.

So while I haven’t completely changed my mind about being in a group … for example, I’m not seeking group members and if I were I would try to create something where all the performers share the spotlight, taking turns singing lead on different singles … I’m not totally opposed to it anymore. It might be fun. It might be a ton of fun. And if it doesn’t work out, leaving a group has been a great launch to a solo career for lots of people.

Oh, I almost forgot: the picture up top is of me, Taylor Evans and Jazz Testolini backstage at The Opera House. I adore singing with these two! I don’t know how long we’d last as a group though, lol! xoxo